Trail Running in the Marin Headlands: A Fastpacking Adventure from San Francisco to Point Reyes - Part 1

Sometimes the best trips are the spontaneous adventures. My adventure started on a cold day in Banff, with a few too many cups of coffee. It was cold and grey outside and I found myself on the internet, browsing the travel websites and dreaming about trails in special places.

Special places like the Marin Headlands and Point Reyes in spring.


On my last trip to this area, an idea had planted its' seed in my brain. For the last 4 months, a map of Point Reyes National Seashore had become my prime next-to-the-toilet-reading material. I wanted to explore this area further, but first I had to get there. My idea was to get off the plane, take the public transportation to the Golden Gate bridge and run all the way from San Francisco to the Marin Headlands and continue through to Point Reyes. A self-propelled adventure. So I bought a ticket, packed my Camelback and started running 20 hours later.

The journey starts here.

When I arrived at the Golden Gate Bridge on Saturday, it was a swarming mass of humanity. The citizens of San Francisco and the tourists, like myself, were out in full force. It was a clear, sunny, warm day and it seemed like the world was out walking on the bridge. I was giddy with excitement, awe and disbelief that I found myself in this incredible place on this particular day.

Giddy.

For my first day, the plan was to get out of the city and run to the Golden Gate Headlands Hostel. The moment I crossed the bridge and found the trail, I couldn't get over the difference. The lack of people. Beautiful trails. Great views. Scented woods. Flowers. Hummingbirds. Solitude. And it was all less than 2 hours from the city.

So close, yet so far.

The trail took me straight to the hostel in under 2 hours. I slept like a baby until the wild turkeys woke me up at 6:30AM. The wild turkey alarm! Maybe it was an omen. Either way, I awoke to a perfect bluebird day and I was stoked to get running. Day 2 was going to be long and scenic and I could hardly wait to begin the adventure.